The 50 Largest Craft Breweries in the U.S.

It’s a heady time for craft brewing in America. In the past 15 years the market share for craft beer has risen from 1% to nearly 6%, and the country now supports over 2,000 different breweries.

This week, the Brewers Association completed their tally of 2011 beer sales and published a list of the 50 largest craft breweries, by sales volume. Boston Beer Co. maintains its impressive seat atop the pack, with Samuel Adams distributed in all 50 states (it ranks fifth overall, even when big macrobrew companies like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors are included).

The group includes a wide variety of companies that are spread over 25 different states. California’s Sierra Nevada is number two on the list, followed by New Belgium (based in Colorado but soon to build a new brewery in North Carolina). Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR ranks fifth, Delaware’s Dogfish Head rings in at number 12. Flying Dog, now in Frederick, MD is number 26, follwed immediately by Downingtown, PA’s Victory Brewing at position 27.

By our rough estimation, the West Coast is home to the highest number of the breweries on this list, with California claiming a dozen within its borders alone. Around 13 on the list are East Coast operations, and approximately another 15 are heartland businesses. Overall, it’s exciting that great beer is being appreciated by so many people.

Did your favorite brewery make the list? Check it out below, and let us know in the comments!